Varaha Purana 136.72 — Adhyaya 136, Shloka 72

A Sūtra-like Manual of Expiations for Ritual Transgressions

Devanagari script

कथं मुच्येत देवेश प्रायश्चित्तं वद प्रभो ॥ श्रीवराह उवाच ॥ यो मे कुसुम्भशाकेन प्रापणं कुरुते नरः ॥

Transliteration

kathaṃ mucyeta deveśa prāyaścittaṃ vada prabho | śrīvarāha uvāca | yo me kusumbhaśākena prāpaṇaṃ kurute naraḥ ||

Translation

‘ឱ ព្រះអម្ចាស់នៃទេវតា តើមនុស្សអាចរួចផុតដោយរបៀបណា? ឱ ព្រះម្ចាស់ សូមប្រាប់ពិធីសងបាប (prāyaścitta) ផង।’ ព្រះវរាហៈមានព្រះបន្ទូលថា៖ ‘បុរសណាផ្គត់ផ្គង់ការថ្វាយដល់យើងដោយស្លឹកបន្លែ kusumbha…’

Word by Word

• katham: how

• mucyeta: may be freed

• deveśa: lord of the gods

• prāyaścitta: expiation

• vada: tell

• prabho: O lord

• śrīvarāha uvāca: Śrī Varāha said

• yaḥ: who

• me: to me

• kusumbhaśāka: kusumbha greens

• prāpaṇa: giving/providing/offering

• kurute: does

• nara: man/person

Speaker

Pṛthivī (question) / Varāha (answer begins)

Varaha Avatara Context

Varaha Avatara Context: {"is_varaha_focus":true,"aspect_highlighted":"None","boar_form_detail":"None","earth_interaction":"Earth petitions Varāha as Devēśa/Prabhu for a concrete prāyaścitta; Varāha begins the authoritative reply."}

Bhu Devi Dialogue

Bhu Devi Dialogue: {"is_dialogue":true,"speaker_role":"questioner","bhu_devi_state":"earnest, burdened by concern for dharma-correction","key_question":"How is one released from the fault—what expiation should be done for the kusumbha-greens offering/provision?"}

Mathura Mandala

Mathura Mandala: {"is_mathura_related":false,"specific_site":"None","parikrama_context":"None","krishna_connection":"None"}

Dharma Shastra

Dharma Shastra: {"has_dharma_rule":true,"topic":"prayaschitta","instruction_summary":"For the specific fault connected with offering/providing kusumbha-greens to the Lord, Varāha prescribes a defined expiation (detailed in following verses).","karmic_consequence":"Proper expiation leads to release from kīlbiṣa/pāpa; neglect sustains taint and obstructs spiritual progress."}

Vrata Mahatmya

Vrata Mahatmya: {"has_vrata":false,"vrata_name":"None","tithi_month":"None","promised_fruit":"None"}

Cosmic Boar Symbolism

Cosmic Boar Symbolism: {"has_symbolism":false,"symbolic_interpretation":"None","yajna_varaha_imagery":"None","vedantic_connection":"None"}

Philosophical Teaching

Philosophical Teaching: {"has_teaching":true,"teaching_type":"śaraṇāgati and moral repair","core_concept":"Release from fault comes through humble inquiry and compliance with divine/śāstric remedy, not denial.","practical_application":"When a lapse occurs, confess internally, seek the rule, and perform the remedy with sincerity; treat prāyaścitta as restoration of alignment."}

Subject Matter

Subject Matter: ["Ethics","Ritual Practice","Prāyaścitta"]

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: śānta

Secondary Rasa: śraddhā-bhakti

Geographic Context

Type: None

Cross References

Related Themes: Varāha Purāṇa 136.81.0 (graded expiation: Cāndrāyaṇa vs payovrata); Varāha Purāṇa 136.82.0 (result: no sin-taint; attainment of the Lord’s world)

Visual Art Cues

Visual Art Cues: {"scene_description":"Bhūdevī asks Varāha directly for the expiation; the verse pivots into Varāha’s speech, marking the start of a formal dharma ruling.","item_prompts":["Bhūdevī in supplicant posture","Varāha raising a hand in assurance/teaching","a manuscript or dharma-scroll motif","a small offering tray indicating the disputed naivedya"],"kerala_mural_prompt":"Kerala mural: strong narrative split—Bhūdevī pleading on left, Varāha beginning instruction on right; bold outlines, lotus borders.","tanjore_prompt":"Tanjore: Varāha central with abhaya/teaching gesture; Bhūdevī kneeling; gold-leaf halo and ornate arch framing the ‘Śrīvarāha uvāca’ moment.","mysore_prompt":"Mysore: refined, symmetrical composition; Varāha’s calm face and didactic hand mudrā; Bhūdevī’s anxious yet devoted gaze.","pahari_prompt":"Pahari: intimate teacher-student scene; gentle hillside/river backdrop; emphasis on facial expression and humility."}

Audio Atmosphere

Audio Atmosphere: {"recitation_mood":"supplicatory turning to authoritative","suggested_raga":"Bhairavi","pace":"medium","voice_tone":"Bhūdevī: pleading and soft; Varāha: firm, clear, compassionate"}

Tags

• Classical Literature
• Purāṇic Dialogue
• Ritual Studies
• Vaiṣṇavism

FAQs

What is the historical significance of this verse?

It preserves a structured inquiry-response format that parallels Dharma-śāstra expiation discussions, but presented through Purāṇic narrative voice.

Which geographic location is identified?

No location is identified; the verse is procedural and dialogic.

What is the primary ethical instruction?

When a fault is associated with an offering act, an appropriate expiatory procedure is to be sought rather than ignored.